Objective cosmetic and anatomical outcomes at adolescence of feminising surgery for ambiguous genitalia done in childhood

Abstract

There are few, if any data on the long-term outcome of feminising genital surgery for children with ambiguous genitalia. We present a retrospective study of cosmetic and anatomical outcomes in 44 adolescent patients who had ambiguous genitalia in childhood and underwent feminising genital surgery. Cosmetic result was judged as poor in 18 (41%) of these patients. 43 (98%) of 44 needed further treatment to the genitalia for cosmesis, tampon use, or intercourse. 23 (89%) of 26 of genitoplasties planned as one-stage procedures required further major surgery. This information must be available to parents and clinicians planning such surgery. Cosmetic genital surgery in infancy needs to be reassessed in the light of these results.